Infant&#39;s undergarment



Feb. 8, 1955 A. l.. SMITH 2,701,567

INFANT'S UNDERGARMENT Filed sept. 1e, 195s zgf United States Patent O INFANT-S UNDERGARMENT Agnes Lenz Smith, Oregon, lll.

Application September 16, 1953, Serial No. 380,572

3 Claims. (Cl. 12S-284) This invention relates be worn by infants.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a diaper of simple construction readily adapted for application to the infant and contoured to conform with its body when in use.

A further object is to provide a diaper of the character described which also serves as an expansible waist band for the infant.

A further object of the invention is to provide a diaper of the character described wherein the front portion of the diaper is fastened in overlapping relation across the front and sides of a continuous waist band to form an area of double thickness for the purpose of a protective covering for the abdomen of the infant.

A still further object is to provide a diaper of the character described in which all the parts are secured in such a manner as to form a garment which will lie smoothly about the abdomen and hip area of the infant, thus adding to its comfort as well as to the appearance of the outer garments which may be used therewith.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from time to time as the following description proceeds.

The invention may best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a front view of the diaper with the elastic belt thereof in extended condition as when in use applied to an infant, and with the fastening devices in secured position;

Figure 2 is a rear view of the diaper in condition as when it is applied to the infant, excepting that the fastening devices are unfastened;

Figure 3 is a front view showing the front portion of the diaper in unfolded flattened condition, and the elastic belt in contracted condition as before applying to the infant.

Referring now to the details of the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, the body portion of the diaper, indicated generally at 10, is made of an expansible knit fabric, preferably of double thickness cotton material, fleeced for softness and highly absorbent, and with the knit material more expansible crossways than lengthwise of the body portion when the latter is in unfolded position, as shown in Figure 3.

One end of the body portion 10 has its sides extended and looped into a continuous, tubular waist band 11. In the preferred form shown herein, the waist band 11 has a relatively restrictive elastic belt member 12 secured along its upper edge. Said belt member preferably consists of a Well-known form of continuous, vertically-ribbed band, knit integrally with the knit body 10 and reenforced by rubber-cored yarn extending lengthwise thereof so as to avoid any vertical or transverse seams. In practice, it is found that a belt member 12 of approximately one and three-fourths (1%) inches in width is especially satisfactory for this type of diaper. The belt member 12 may, if desired, be made of a separate piece of elastic tape permanently connected along the upper edge of waist band 11.

The fabric body 10 below the waist band 11 includes a downwardly extending short part 13, integral side parts 14, 14, and an extended rear part 1S which merges into a relatively narrow crotch part 17 intermediate the ends of the body 10.

Bands 18, 18 of relatively restrictive elastic material, similar to the belt member 12 but preferably somewhat to improvements in diapers to 2 ,70 1 ,5 6 7 Patentedv Feb'. 8, 1.955

narrower (say, inch in width), are formed along opposite sides of the narrowed crotch part 17. Each of the bands 18 has cooperating fastening means, herein shown as conventional snap fasteners 19, 19a, at opposite ends thereof, to form leg openings 20, 20 when said fastelning means are secured together, as shown in Figure The rear part 15 of body 10 is extended into a widened lower end part 21 (see Figure 2) also provided with an elastic band 22 along its terminal .edge similar to the' belt 12 and bands 1.8. When the end part 21 is in unfastened condition as shown in Figure 3 thev elastic band 22 will contract the termina-l edge of the lower end part 21, as indicated in full lines 21a, but it will be understood that the lower part 21 is readily capable of being stretched or extended into the dotted line condition indicated at 2lb, 2lb in the same ligure. Fastening means, herein shown as snap fasteners 23, 23, areffixed at oppo-l site ends of the band 22, adapted to be Secured to .Ctr operating fasteners 23a, 23a secured to the elastc belt 12 of the waist band portion 11, preferably disposed partly around the opposite sides and toward the rear of said belt when the garment is applied to the infant, as indicated in Figures 1 and2.

As will be seen from Figures l and 3, the front part 13 of waist band 11 terminates along an edge extending approximately in horizontal alignment with, or sutilciently near to, the fasteners 19a, 19a at the adjacent ends of the leg openings 20 so that the entire waist band 11 will be stretched and held snugly around the infants body when the diaper is fitted to the infant, with the fasteners 19 and 19a for the leg openings 20, 20 secured together.

The use and operation of the device is as follows:

It will be understood that the diaper, in the unfolded or extended condition of Figure 3, shows the elastic belt member 12, the elastic band 22 at the opposite end of the body 10, and the two elastic bands 18, 18 along the sides of the body, all in relatively contracted condition. When these elastic members are extended to their no1'- mal lengths when the diaper is in use, the knit fabric body 10 will assume a more form-fitting contour as shown in Figures l and 2.

In applying the diaper to the infant, the infant is placed in the usual position lying on its back, and the waist band 11 is slipped over both legs of the infant, until said waist band assumes the proper form-fitting position above the hips and around the waist. The crotch portion 17 and the widened end part 21 of the diaper will then lie substantially atwise beneath the infants legs and is folded forwardly and upwardly between its legs. The fasteners 19 and 19a on the bands 18, 18 may be fastened to form the leg openings 20, either before or after the belt fasteners 23 and 23a are secured together. The widened end part 21 is secured in overlapping posi tion across the front and around the sides of the waist band 11 and the snap fasteners 23, 23 are secured to the corresponding fasteners 23a, 23a on the elastic belt 12 of the waist band 11. When the diaper is finally in place as shown in Figure l, the upper portion of the garment at front and sides forms a waist band of double thickness to protect the abdomen of the infant.

ln practice, it has been found that the use of a continuous waist band 11 as an integral part of the diaper makes it much simpler and quicker to apply the garment to an infant, since it is a comparatively easy operation to slip the expansible waist band initially over both legs of the infant. Once the Waist band is firmly in place about the infants waist, it is then relatively easy to secure the several snap fasteners together, even though the infant may be squirming and wiggling, since the elastic waist band forms, in effect, an anchor for the entire diaper and the latter will then follow the infants movements, and the fasteners can be readily secured, without disarranging the diaper.

When all the parts are secured together as above described, the garment will lie smoothly and snugly about the infant, especially in the abdomen and hip areas, thus adding to its comfort. The garment cannot slip down while the infant is playing, crawling or walking, and is much less bulky and is more comfortable than when ice the diaper is fastened with safety pins to an undershirt. My improved garment also adds to the appearance of any outer garments which may be tted smoothly thereover. My improved diaper can also be used as training pants, merely by leaving the fasteners secured, and slipping the diaper on or oif from the waist, as desired.

It will be understood that a diaper of the form hereinabove described may also be made of any suitable rubber or plastic material for use as a cover or protector for a disposable fabric or tissue diaper.

My improved diaper is preferably made in a variety of sizes, to be used depending upon the size of the infant to which it is to be applied.

Although I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the detailed features shown and described, but that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A diaper having an elongated body of knit fabric, with one end thereof extended forwardly from opposite sides to form a continuous tubular waist band, said waist band having a relatively constrictive elastic belt member around its upper edge, said body extending downwardly from the rear and sides of said waist band to an intermediate crotch portion having relatively constrictive elastic members along the side edges thereof, means for fastening the opposite ends of each of said elastic members together to form leg openings at opposite sides of said body, said body also having a transversely widened portion at the opposite end thereof with a relatively constrictive elastic member along its terminal edge, and means for fastening the opposite ends of said last-named elastic member to the elastic belt member of said continuous waist band, with said widened end portion in overlapping relation with the front and sides of said waist band.

2. A diaper in accordance with claim l, wherein the elongated body of knit fabric is normally more expansible transversely than lengthwise of said body.

3. A diaper in accordance with claim l, wherein the lower edge of said Waist band across the front of the latter terminates approximately in horizontal alignment with the fastening means at the upper ends of the leg openings. l

No references cited. 

